Device for facilitating the playing of stringed instruments

ABSTRACT

A device for facilitating the playing of stringed instruments comprises a stand (6) with two lateral pieces (7, 7&#39;) between which is arranged a pressure plate (5) with a length which is larger than the distance between at least three crossbars (3) on a neck of the instrument, and a width that is larger than the distance between maximally separated strings (2). On its underside, the pressure plate has protruding abutment elements (12), the plate being on one hand reciprocally displaceable relative to the stand, and on the other hand being capable of being pressed down against the force of springs (10) in the direction of the neck (1) in order to activate a combination of transmission device (5) included in the stand by a desired, corresponding combination of abutment elements, the transmission device having the purpose of stretching strings against the crossbars (3), so that the strings deliver a desired chord.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device for facilitating the playing ofstringed instruments, e.g. guitars, of the type comprising a pluralityof strings located along a neck on which there are interspaced crossbarsfor determining the tone-decisive length of individual strings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

To learn to play the guitar or other stringed instruments is associatedwith difficulties not only for beginners but also for people having ahandicap, for instance in the fingers of the hand. Further, many peopledo not have the ambition of wanting to master the playing technique in aperfect or masterly manner, but are content with being able to perform afew simple chords. However, also in the latter case elementaryfingerings have to be practised and this is often time-consuming andtedious, in particular for people with stiff and/or handicapped fingers.

OBJECTS AND FEATURES OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims at providing a device by means of which alsothe entirely unlearned shall be able to play stringed instruments of thetype initially referred to, without any manifest practice. The deviceshall even enable people who wholly or partly lack fingers to play on,e.g., a guitar.

The object of the invention is attained by a device of the type asdefined in the characterizing clause of claim 1. Advantageousembodiments of the invention are further defined in the dependentclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE APPENDED DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partly cut, simplified perspective view showing a deviceaccording to the invention applied upon the neck of a guitar,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial cross-section through a pressure platecomprised by the device,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a second, alternativeembodiment of the device, and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a third, alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1 reference numeral 1 designates a guitar neck on the top sideof which there are on one hand a number of strings 2 (more specifically,six), and on the other hand a number of axially interspaced crossbars 3of conventional type. A device according to the invention, which devicein this case is constructed as a detachable attachment unit, isdesignated 4 in its entirety. This device comprises on one hand apressure plate 5, and on the other hand a stand designated 6 in itsentirety, which comprises two lateral pieces 7, 7 ' between which extenda number of cross-pieces 8 which form a shape-stiff unit with thelateral pieces. To the stand also belong one or several holding devices9, by means of which the stand can be mounted on the guitar's neck. Thepressure plate 5 has a length that is larger than the distance betweenat least three crossbars 3 and a width that is larger than the distancebetween maximally separated outer strings. The internal distancesbetween the three cross-pieces 8 shown in the example substantiallycorrespond to the internal distances between adjacent crossbars 3.

The pressure plate 5 is axially displaceable in relation to the stand 6and is also possible to press down against the force of springs 10, morespecifically from an upper initial position in a direction downwardlytowards the guitar neck. According to the embodiment schematically shownin FIG. 1, the plate 5 rests upon rims 11 carried by the springs 10, theplate being displaceable axially relative to the rims. A number ofabutment elements 12 protrude from the underside of pressure plate 5,which elements according to the example have the shape of pins.According to the exemplified embodiment, the pressure plate comprisesequally many (i.e., six) rows of pins as the number of strings, each rowin practice being capable of comprising ten to thirty pins. As may beseen in the detail cross-section in FIG. 2, each individual pin 12 isadjustably movable between on one hand an inactive position introducedinto a hole 13 and on the other hand an active position protrudingdownwardly from the hole. In FIG. 4 four pins 12 are shown, adjusted toan active, downwardly protruding position, more specifically for theformation of the chord C.

In the cross-pieces 8 there are cylindrical recesses 14, each one ofwhich containing a spring-loaded transmission means with the shape of atap 15 that is normally held in an upper initial position by anappurtenant spring. When an abutment pin activates the tap 15 by thefact that the pressure plate 5 is pressed down against the force of thesprings 10, the activated tap will be pushed down towards and squeeze anappurtenant guitar string 2. In this way, the individual guitar stringis stretched along a given length in order to deliver a definite tonewhen playing.

The four activated abutment pins 12 correspond to and replace thefingering of the hand at normal guitar playing. By combining in asuitable way different abutment pins out of the plurality of pins thatare available on the pressure plate 5, a well-nigh unlimited number ofchords can be obtained. By the fact that the pressure plate 5 is axiallydisplaceable, the activating pins can be moved between differentpositions in which different chords are produced.

In FIG. 3 an alternative, further developped embodiment is shown,according to which the stand 6 comprises a position scale 16 which givesa number of common chords. More specifically, the scale 16 is arrangedin the region of the upper edge of one lateral piece 7' of the stand.The scale cooperates with a corresponding number of recesses 17, eachone of which being capable of receiving a stop element 18 fixedlyconnected to the pressure plate 5, said element having the shape of aprotruding bar. The stop bar 18 can be brought into engagement withinthe individual recess 17 when the plate S is pressed down against theforce of the springs 10, as shown in FIG. 3. In order to simplify aquick and exact determination of the axial position of the pressureplate, both the recesses 17 and the stop bar 18 are V-shapedcross-sectionally. This implies that the stop bar is automaticallycentered when it is pressed down into a selected recess. Thus, whenplaying, the pressure plate can be moved so that the stop bar 18 issituated in the region of a chord indicated on the scale 16, thepressure plate taking an exact adjusted position for the given chordwhen the stop bar has been led down into the recess in question.

Moreover, according to the embodiment of FIG. 3, the pressure plate 5 isarranged to cooperate with a special key plate 19 which is pivotallyconnected to and axially movable along an axis or bar 20 fastened on thestand. On the top side of the pressure plate 5 is arranged a centralridge 21 with which the key plate 19 is connected via a carrier 22 whichon one hand carries the pressure plate 5 when the key plate 19 is movedaxially, and on the other hand allows a certain possibility of motionbetween the two plates in connection with the pressing down. Anessential advantage of the key plate 19 is that it simplifies theactivation of the pressure plate for people with short or weakenedfingers. Hence, the fingers of the hand may be applied in the region ofthe free end of the key plate, said key plate, by acting as a lever,being capable of exerting a comparatively large force upon the pressureplate, via the ridge 21.

In FIG. 4 an alternative embodiment is shown, according to which thepressure plate 5 cooperates with two lever means 23, 23', each of whichcomprising on one hand an arm 24, and on the other hand a cross-plate 25which has inner and outer edges 26 and 27, respectively. The arm 24 isobliquely placed with a certain angle relative to the cross-plate 25,more specifically in such a way that the arm 24 in an initial positionpoints obliquely inwards/upwards at the same time as the plate 25supports against the pressure plate 5. It should also be observed thatthe opposed end portions of the cross-plate 25 are introduced underlongitudinal edge flanges 28 on the lateral pieces 7, 7' of the stand.When the individual arm 24 is pressed down in the direction of the plate5, then the plate 25 turns around its inner edge 26, whereby the plateforces the pressure plate to move downwardly from the edge flanges 28,in that the rear edge 27 supports against the underside of the flanges28. Thus, when the arms 24 of the two means 23, 23' are simultaneouslyturned in a downward direction by the fingers of the hand, the pressureplate will be pressed down at four separate points. In other words, itis safeguarded that the pressure plate moves parallel with the top sideof the guitar neck, so that all activated abutment pins achieve asubstantially simultaneous stretching of the guitar strings in question.Also according to the embodiment of FIG. 4, the plate 5 may be presseddown by a large force by means of the force-amplifying lever means 23,23'.

It should be noted that the arms 24 have bent or curved portions 29 attheir free ends. These curved end portions facilitate the axial movementof pressure plate 5. In this context it should be underlined that thetwo lever means 23, 23' are connected with the pressure plate in asuitable way so that it is carried with them when the arms are movedmanually.

FEASIBLE MODIFICATIONS OF THE INVENTION

The invention is not limited solely to the embodiments as described andshown in the drawings. Thus, it is for instance feasible to provide arestricted number of fixed abutment elements in the form of pins orprotrusions on the underside of the pressure plate, which are so placedin a given combination that they bring about a number of given chords.In such cases, the pressure plate is advantageously detachably mountedin the stand so that it may be replaced by another pressure plate withfixed abutment elements which bring about other chords. It is furtherpossible to use other transmission means than the spring-loaded taps 15as shown and described. Thus, the transmission means which areactivatable by the abutment elements, may consist of cushions or othersoft means applied upon the free ends of ribbed springs whose opposedends are fastened on the underside of a cross-piece comprised by thestand. It may also be mentioned that the device may be permanentlyintegrated with the stringed instrument in question instead of beingproduced as a detachable attachment unit of the type exemplified in thedrawings.

I claim:
 1. A device for facilitating the playing of stringedinstruments, comprising a plurality of strings (2) located along a neck(1) on which there are interspaced crossbars for determining thetone-decisive length of individual strings, characterized in that itcomprises a stand (6) with two lateral pieces (7, 7') between which isarranged a pressure plate (5) which has a length that is larger than thedistance between at least three crossbars (3) and a width that is largerthan the distance between maximally separated strings, and which on itsunderside has protruding and projecting abutment elements (12), theplate (5) having means for reciprocally displacing the plate relative tothe stand, and pressing down against the force of one or several springs(10) in the direction of said neck (1) in order to activate acombination of transmission means (15) included in the stand by adesired corresponding combination of abutment elements, saidtransmission means stretching strings against said crossbars (3) so thatthe strings deliver the desired chord.
 2. Device according to claim 1,characterized in that the transmission means are in the shape of taps(15) which are arranged in recesses (14) in cross-pieces (8) extendingbetween the lateral pieces (7, 7') of the stand, the individual tap (15)pressing downwards against the appurtenant string (2) against the forceof a spring, when being activated by an abutment element (12) on thepressure plate.
 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe pressure plate (5) is arranged to cooperate with a key plate (19)which is pivotally connected with and axially displaced along an axis(20) arranged on the stand (6), and connected with a ridge (21)centrally arranged on the top side of the pressure plate (5), via acarrier (22) carrying the pressure plate along when the key plate (19)is moved.
 4. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that aposition scale (16) is connected with the stand, which scale gives anumber of common chords and with which scale cooperates a number ofrecesses (17) corresponding to the chords, and in that a stop element(18) is connected with the pressure plate (5), said element beingbrought into engagement with a selected recess (17) in order to withholdthe plate in an axial adjusted position that corresponds to a desiredchord.
 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that thepressure plate (5) is arranged to cooperate with a key plate (19) whichis pivotally connected with and axially displaced along an axis (20)arranged on the stand (6), and connected with a ridge (21) centrallyarranged on the top side of the pressure plate (5), via a carrier (22)carrying the pressure plate along when the key plate (19) is moved. 6.Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the individual recess(17) is cross-sectionally V-shaped and that the stop element (18) iscross-sectionally V-shaped in an analogous way.
 7. Device according toclaim 6, characterized in that the pressure plate (5) is arranged tocooperate with a key plate (19) which is pivotally connected with andaxially displaced along an axis (20) arranged on the stand (6), andconnected with a ridge (21) centrally arranged on the top side of thepressure plate (5), via a carrier (22) carrying the pressure plate alongwhen the key plate (19) is moved.
 8. Device according to claim 1,characterized in that a position scale (16) is connected with the stand,which scale gives a number of common chords and with which scalecooperates a number of recesses (17) corresponding to the chords, and inthat a stop element (18) is connected with the pressure plate (5), saidelement being brought into engagement with a selected recess (17) inorder to withhold the plate in an axial adjusted position thatcorresponds to a desired chord.
 9. Device according to claim 8,characterized in that the pressure plate (5) is arranged to cooperatewith a key plate (19) which is pivotally connected with and axiallydisplaced along an axis (20) arranged on the stand (6), and connectedwith a ridge (21) centrally arranged on the top side of the pressureplate (5), via a carrier (22) carrying the pressure plate along when thekey plate (19) is moved.
 10. Device according to claim 8, characterizedin that the individual recess (17) is cross-sectionally V-shaped andthat the stop element (18) is cross-sectionally V-shaped in an analogousway.
 11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that thepressure plate (5) is arranged to cooperate with a key plate (19) whichis pivotally connected with and axially displaced along an axis (20)arranged on the stand (6), and connected with a ridge (21) centrallyarranged on the top side of the pressure plate (5), via a carrier (22)carrying the pressure plate along when the key plate (19) is moved. 12.Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure plate(5) is arranged to cooperate with a key plate (19) which is pivotallyconnected with and axially displaced along an axis (20) arranged on thestand (6), and connected with a ridge (21) centrally arranged on the topside of the pressure plate (5), via a carrier (22) carrying the pressureplate along when the key plate (19) is moved.
 13. Device according toclaim 12, characterized in that pressing down the pressure plate (5) bymeans of two lever means (23, 23'), each one of which comprising an arm(24) and a cross-plate (25) which with opposed ends engages between thepressure plate and longitudinal edge flanges (28) on the stand, thecross-plates (25) pressing down the pressure plate (5) at four separatepoints when the arms (24) are turned down from an initial position. 14.Device according to 13, characterized in that the transmission means arein the shape of taps (15) which are arranged in recesses (14) incross-pieces (8) extending between the lateral pieces (7, 7') of thestand, the individual tap (15) pressing downwards against theappurtenant string (2) against the force of a spring, when beingactivated by an abutment element (12) on the pressure plate.
 15. Deviceaccording to claim 1, characterized in that pressing down the pressureplate (5) by means of two lever means (23, 23'), each one of whichcomprising an arm (24) and a cross-plate (25) which with opposed endsengages between the pressure plate and longitudinal edge flanges (28) onthe stand, the cross-plates (25) pressing down the pressure plate (5) atfour separate points when the arms (24) are turned down from an initialposition.
 16. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that thepressure plate (5) comprises a plurality of pins (12) serving asabutment elements, each one of which being adjustably movable between aninactive position when introduced into a hole (13) in which the pin isnot activating any transmission means, and an active position whenprotruding downwards from the hole, in which active position acooperating transmission means is activated.
 17. Device according to 16,characterized in that the transmission means are in the shape of taps(15) which are arranged in recesses (14) in cross-pieces (8) extendingbetween the lateral pieces (7, 7') of the stand, the individual tap (15)pressing downwards against the appurtenant string (2) against the forceof a spring, when being activated by an abutment element (12) on thepressure plate.
 18. Device according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe pressure plate (5) comprises a plurality of pins (12) serving asabutment elements, each one of which being adjustably movable between aninactive position when introduced into a hole (13) in which the pin isnot activating any transmission means, and an active position whenprotruding downwards from the hole, in which active position acooperating transmission means is activated.
 19. Device according toclaim 18, characterized in that the abutment elements are fixedlyfastened on the underside of the pressure plate and in that the pressureplate is detachably mounted in the stand to be replaced by a pressureplate with another combination of abutment elements.
 20. Deviceaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the abutment elements arefixedly fastened on the underside of the pressure plate and in that thepressure plate is detachably mounted in the stand to be replaced by apressure plate with another combination of abutment elements.